Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

After forcing the girls to explain exactly what they meant, Nobu found himself sitting with his left hand cradling his head.Simply put, kunoichi were designed to have an 'expiration date' from the moment they started their training. The poisons they ingested helped to strengthen their body and provide resistance against other forms of poison, but, at the same time, it drastically reduced their lifespan.According to Kumiko, the life expectancy of most kunoichis was around thirty years. Most died long before that due to work-related hazards, but, even if they were extremely careful, most would begin to lose their cultivation in their late twenties.Unless they had a unique set of talents that the clan wanted to preserve, most kunoichi would die between three and five years after their cultivation began decaying. They could lengthen this period of time by working hard or consuming various treasured herbs, but, more often than not, those that reached the age of 'retirement' chose to spend their final few years guiding the younger generation and relaxing."That explains why everyone in the village looks so young...this..."Though he thought he had something to say, Nobu found that he was still at a loss for words. This type of thing would never be allowed back on Earth, yet, as if it was perfectly normal, all the girls around him appeared completely unperturbed by the notion they were already experiencing their twilight years. And what did they intend to spend those years on? Serving him to the best of their ability..."Fuck..."Feeling as though he might cry, Nobu covered his eyes with his left hand as he made a shooing gesture with his right, saying, "Leave...I need to think..."Though he felt a twinge of guilt telling the girls to leave, Nobu didn't want to appear weak in front of a group of people who had dedicated their entire lives to him. He knew this was a little contrary, but, feeling a range of emotions he had never experienced before, he didn't really know what else to do. He just wanted to be alone.A stark contrast to how Nobu was feeling, most of the girls present found it difficult to contain their smiles. It was rare to have a Lord that cared about their subordinates enough to genuinely grieve at their loss, much less the idea that they would eventually have to part. This drastically increased their desire to protect him, as, even in their wildest dreams, they never imagined that their Lord would be such a kind and compassionate man.If he knew what the girls were thinking, Nobu would have felt even guiltier. Fortunately, they quickly and silently filed out of the room. They had been so silent, in fact, that Nobu couldn't even begin to guess how long they had been gone by the time he looked up.Exhaling an emotionally fatigued sigh, Nobu crawled over to his futon before pulling out the stone tablet. The Units and Upgrades tab allowed him to change everything from the girls' size and shape to their various 'preferences', so he was hoping it would allow him to deal with the toxicity issue as well.With this in mind, Nobu pressed on the tiny (+) icon next to Midori's [Cursed] Status. She hadn't been his 'friend' the last time he looked at it so he was hoping there would be some kind of change now that she was listed in his Units and Upgrades tab. To his considerable relief, there was quite a bit of additional information compared to before. This included a section related to removing the curse, and, though he was far from being able to afford the 30,000,000 Aura price tag, the curse of a Goddess had to be more difficult to resolve than simple poison."Fuckin' a, man...I'm so glad to have a cheat right now..."Though he didn't rise from his futon, a smile developed across Nobu's face as he covered his eyes using his forearm. It hadn't even been two whole days since he met the kunoichi who had sworn to serve him, but, after everything that happened since his reincarnation, they were the closest thing he had to family and friends in this world. This might change once he met his actual family, but, for the time being, Yui and the rest were basically his people...he might be an incorrigible asshole, but he still looked after the people who looked out for him.........After lying in silence for the better part of half an hour, Nobu eventually rose to a seated position before pulling out his tablet for a second time. He was a little curious about the other (+) icons, so, now that he had calmed down a bit, he couldn't resist the urge to check them out.Clicking on the (+) next to Midori's [Fear] Status, a wry smile developed across Nobu's face as he saw the familiar, "She thinks you're going to eat her." line. Below that, however, was an option to 'erase' said Status for a mere 390 Aura. This filled his head with various thoughts, but, believing it was only a matter of time before her fear resolved itself, Nobu clicked on her [Natural Jade Body] next.Unsurprisingly, the description for Natural Jade Body remained the same. Now, however, a number of different options existed within the description. This included strengthening the effect, evolving it into something else entirely, or erasing it completely. Fortunately, the interface showed exactly what it would evolve into, specifically the Flawless Jade Body and Immortal Jade Physique."Nice..."Having confirmed his suspicions, Nobu decided to open Sachiko's and Nariko's Status in turn...------------------------------------Name: Yoshitsune SachikoAge: 8Gender: Female, H:129cm, W: 25.2kg, B: 61.1cm, W: 46.3cm, H: 63.2cmBlood Type: AB+Cultivation: N/AAura Units: 1301/1362Status: Cursed(+), Carmine Eyes(+), Confusion(+), Excitement(+)-Cursed by the Goddess Inari Okami: Probably of bearing daughters increased to 99.5%. Life expectancy drastically reduced. Removal Cost: 3,000,000AU-Carmine Eyes: A rare bloodline that drastically increases the user's affinity with Yin and other negative energies.-Upgrade Cost: 30,000AU-Evolution(s): Scarlet Demon Eyes: 6,000,000AU -&gt; Demon Goddess's Blazing Eyes of Destruction: 9,000,000,000AU-Removal Cost: 500,000AU-Confusion: Worried about the future.-Excitement: She is eager to learn how to cook.Main Hand: Right, AmbidextrousPreferred Weapon: Ninjato, Naginata, Morningstar, FistsStrengths: Innately Beautiful, Intelligent, Perceptive, Good listener, Can see in the darkWeaknesses: Doesn't like talking, Hates being alone, Frigthens easilyOrientation: HeterosexualPreferred Position: She has considered shoving things up her buttFavorite Food: Shellfish, Sweets......------------------------------------------------------------------------Name: Yoshitsune NarikoAge: 8Gender: Female, H:125.5cm, W: 25.3kg, B: 62.7cm, W: 45.9cm, H: 63.4cmBlood Type: A+Cultivation: N/AAura Units: 1293/1411Status: Cursed(+), Golden Boar's Blessing(+), Excited(+), Curious(+)-Cursed by the Goddess Inari Okami: Probably of bearing daughters increased to 99.5%. Life expectancy drastically reduced. Removal Cost: 3,000,000AU-Golden Boar's Blessing: Provides the user with an increased affinity towards plants, animals, and other natural things.-Upgrade Cost: 5,000AU-Evolution(s): Golden Boar's Divine Protection: 1,000,000AU -&gt; Golden Boar's Avatar: 960,000,000AU-Removal Cost: 90,000AU-Excited: She really likes the stone tablet.-Curious: She wants to know more about you.Main Hand: Left, AmbidextrousPreferred Weapon: FistsStrengths: Confident, Iron Stomach, Strong Body, High Pain ToleranceWeakness: Enjoys Bullying the Weak, Slightly Perverted, Being on the DefensiveOrientation: No Preference, Leaning BiPreferred Position: She has kissed other girlsFavorite Food: She likes eating......------------------------------------Though there were several pages of useless information, Nobu couldn't help feeling a little excited by the prospect of upgrading and evolving his 'units'. It might not be polite to think of the girls in this regard, but, so long as he wasn't a complete ass about it, he doubted they would mind."It looks like there is still a bit of hope for Yui. So long as I can make her my friend, she won't have to stay flat as a board for the rest of her life..."Since there were options to both increase and decrease variables such as height, weight, and bust, Nobu could literally increase Yui from an A-Cup to a D-Cup if he wanted to. Unfortunately, the only parameters he could affect in the present belonged to a bunch of brats. Sure, he could theoretically give them even better bodies than Shizune. He just wasn't a pedophile. Hell, just knowing the three girls' sizes was already enough to make him feel like a creeper...Shaking that thought from his mind, Nobu began navigating through the other tabs to see if there were options for additional bloodlines available. If he could take them away, it stood to reason that he would also be able to add them. Unfortunately, perhaps as a result of the trio already possessing bloodlines, he couldn't find any options that would allow them to possess another."Guess I need to get serious about increasing my strength. I'm going to need a shit ton of Aura if I want to treat all the girls' toxicity..."As that thought crossed his mind, so too did the notion of curing every kunoichi in the village. This would work if there were no limitations on the number of people he could add as a friend, but that didn't seem to be the case. His current Friends List seemed to be capped at 100, and, from what he could tell, there was no way to delete anyone. As a result, he was already down four slots due to the Transcendent Goddess of the Six Paths basically forcing him to add her as a friend.Unfortunately, even though she was clearly at the top of his Friends List, Nobu couldn't see any of the Goddess' stats or parameters. This implied there was a distinction between the people listed on his Friends List and those who appeared in his Units and Upgrades Tab. Either that or she had gone out of her way to make sure he couldn't see her Status or benefit from her clicks...Doing his best not to think any bad thoughts about the Goddess who had basically fucked over his reincarnation, Nobu occupied himself with clicking until he began feeling peckish. This was quickly followed by a feeling of ravenous hunger, not because he was suffering from the effects of extreme and prolonged malnourishment, but because Cho's food was that good.Suppressing the feelings of guilt that instantaneously reared their ugly head, Nobu set aside his stone tablet before calling out, "Is anyone listening? If you are, go ahead and reveal yourselves..."The moment Nobu finished speaking, Yui, Kiki, and Ayane appeared at the entrance to the room before entering like normal people. Their outfits made this a little strange, especially in the case of Kiku, but that just reminded Nobu of something he had been meaning to ask about ever since his arrival.Waiting until the girls had taken their seats, Nobu asked, "How long will it take to have the Iga Clan prepare a made-to-order mask? I'm planning to try and train my sense of smell in the future, but I'd rather have the option to block things out than suffer the consequences of not having one..."Though she was expecting Nobu to ask about dinner, Yui promptly replied, "The Iga Clan is located in the neighboring province. We're not on the best terms, but the merchant branch of the Oda Clan has been trading with them for the last three hundred years. So long as we issue the order through them, it should only take around two months for the mask to be completed. Until then, we can have our own craftsman begin experimenting with alternative solutions. If you're going to be passing on your unique Cultivation technique to members of our clan, we're going to need them..."Since he was intending to just that, specifically with Sachiko, Nobu nodded his head in affirmation, muttering, "Good...good..." before proceeding to ask, "How soon do you think Cho can prepare a meal...?"Smiling wryly in response, Yui didn't even have to say anything before a gentle tapping could be heard outside the room. Cho had been waiting outside with food and drinks ready to deliver, and, after everything that had happened earlier, she was more excited than ever to provide sustenance to her beloved Lord and Master..."I placed a bit of extra love into these dishes. Please let me know what you think~."......(A/N: Cho is a good girl...)

If he were being honest, Nobu was a little creeped out when Cho mentioned placing 'extra love' into the dishes. Despite this, he still enjoyed the food quite a bit. After all, even if she did place something 'extra' inside, it didn't really matter so long as he didn't know what it was."Thanks. It was delicious..."Amused by her Lord's awkwardness, Cho covered her mouth with her sleeve, giggling before sending a playful wink his way and teasing, "Don't worry. I would never befoul my Lord's meal by adding anything strange. My happiness is your ability to eat without worry..."Punctuating her statement with one of the most radiant smiles Nobu had ever seen, the latter found himself seriously considering apologizing. Instead, he just watched as Cho bowed low enough that her breasts nearly spilled out, wholly unable to speak until she had departed with his empty plates in hand..."That woman is dangerous...""My Lord...?"Hearing Yui's voice, Nobu shifted his attention towards her, confusion visible in his face until his mind fully processed why she had called out to him.Waving his hand in a dismissive gesture, Nobu said, "Nah, it's nothing bad. It's hard to explain, but it was basically a compliment.""Oh...I see..."Though she didn't really understand Nobu's way of speaking at times, Yui didn't doubt he was telling the truth. Thus, rather than press the issue, she changed the topic of discussion, asking, "What are your plans for the rest of the evening? Should we prepare for a bath or are you still going to be meeting with Rukia-dono and Takao-san...?"Remembering his promise to the mother-daughter duo, Nobu's face formed into a frown as he shook his head and said, "I'm not really in the mood to be gawked at like a circus freak. If they want to stop by, I don't mind meeting them. I just don't feel like taking a bath right now."Nodding her head, Yui's gaze flickered towards Ayane for a brief moment. In response, the latter returned a nod of her own before promptly disappearing into the ceiling above. This time, however, she moved much slower than normal so that Nobu was able to perceive her departure.Following Ayane's departure with his eyes, Nobu fell silent for a brief moment before shaking his head a second time and asking, "Where is Yuriko? I haven't seen her ever since she left this morning. Don't tell me she went on a mission or something..."Having anticipated this question for quite some time, a smile developed across Yui's face as she explained, "Today was Rynka's and Shizune's final evaluation. As the kunoichi assigned to oversee their mission, Yuriko's presence was requested. She should be returning shortly after the sun sets."Though he wasn't particularly upset, Nobu couldn't help wincing when he imagined Rynka and Shizune becoming kunoichi. He didn't really know much about the former, but the latter gave off a very spoiled, borderline intolerable vibe. She had clearly received special treatment compared to other kunoichi, and, while he could understand the reasons why, Nobu was still far from truly forgiving her. He might never.Noticing the discomfort visible in her Lord's expression, Yui was about to say something when he suddenly interjected, saying, "Don't worry about it. I just get a little pissed whenever I think back to what happened in the forest..."Shaking his head clear of such thoughts, Nobu was seriously considering taking a nap when a muted sound emanated from outside his door. It hadn't even been a few minutes since Ayane left, so, unless they had literally been waiting nearby for his invitation, it couldn't be Rukia and her daughter."I come bearing a message for Nobunaga-dono. The Matriarch has requested his presence in the main hall. Please attend at your earliest convenience..."Without waiting for Nobu's response, the voice and presence from behind the door vanished without a trace."Annoying..."Smiling wryly in response to Nobu's grumbling, Yui attempted to defend her Grandmother by saying, "I'm certain this is a good thing. Your abilities are unlike anything I have ever seen or heard of. Grandmother wouldn't let anything happen to you."Rolling his eyes, Nobu rose to his feet and said, "Whatever. Let's just get this over with..."......After a quick journey through the main estate, Nobu found himself in a much larger room than the one he had met Hitomi in previously. It was almost like a throne room, but, instead of anything more ornate, the most extravagant seat in the hall was basically just a cushion on top of a slightly elevated platform.Unsurprisingly, this centermost seat was occupied by Hitomi. She wasn't the only one present in the room, however. There were six other ornate seats in the wide and open chamber, three on each side of a central aisle. Four were occupied by remarkably beautiful women while the other two, one appearing far more ornate than the other, were currently empty."You arrived much sooner than I expected. For that, you have our gratitude..."Tearing his eyes away from the big-tittied woman smoking a pipe with a seductive look on her face, Nobu met Hitomi's gaze and answered, "No problem. I didn't really have anything going on right now..."Though his words were far more casual than the situation mandated, Nobu was doing his best to at least sound civil as he approached the final seat, a relatively simple-looking mat set in the center of the hall. There was also a small table with tea and snacks on it, but, other than taking a quick glance, Nobu didn't bother himself with them as he sat down with a grunt and crossed his legs.Under normal circumstances, behavior like Nobu's wouldn't be tolerated. After what Hitomi had revealed, however, each of the Elders present were far more interested in his actions than offended by them. He was basically someone from a different world, and, while he was undoubtedly their Young Lord, he possessed powers and abilities that made him invaluable, not just to the Yoshitsune Clan, but the entire Archipelago.Feeling the eyes of everyone present focused on him, a slight frown marred Nobu's face as he said, "I hope you didn't invite me here just to be stared at..."Covering her mouth with her sleeve, Hitomi issued a light giggle before shaking her head and saying, "Worry not, Waka-chan. We did not call you here without reason. Rather, we wanted to inform you of some good news."Though he was briefly distracted by Suzune waving at him from the corner of his eyes, Nobu quickly regained his focus when he heard Hitomi's words, brows raised slightly as he asked, "Okay? Lay it on me."Raising her own brows at the unfamiliar turn of phase, Hitomi resisted the urge to ask as she went on to explain, "We have discussed the matter in great detail and come to a consensus regarding our previous conversation. In summary, we have decided that, so long as you live among us, we will do our best to ensure that none of our younger generation are sent away on less desireable missions. Specifically, we would ask that you use your ability to ascertain whether or not certain members of our clan possess unique abilities or bloodlines. For each new bloodline discovered, we will provide you with additional resources while also doing our best to facilitate any and all requests you might have."Frowning in response to Hitomi's words, Nobu crossed his arms and asked, "What if I ask you to let them choose a different path? Something other than becoming a kunoichi?"Having already anticipated this question, Hitomi maintained her characteristically confident smile as she answered, "Our clan focuses on rearing kunoichi, not because we want to, but because it is necessary for our survival. If you can help our girls pursue additional paths, we will support that decision to the best of our ability. However, you must have a realistic plan to achieve your goals. Sentiment can only take you so far and we cannot squander resources on those without the ambition or drive to make use of them..."Though he didn't agree with everything Hitomi was saying, Nobu ultimately nodded his head in response, saying, "Yeah, sure. Just don't go sending off children to become prostitutes and shit. That kind of thing makes me sick..."Nodding her head in affirmation, Hitomi adopted a far more serious tone as she said, "I am a woman of my word. So long as you reside within the territories of the Yoshitsune Clan, we will not send our children away to receive that kind of training..."Punctuating her words, Hitomi performed a hand seal that resulted in a buxom kunoichi to appear with an infant bundled in her arms. Then, before Nobu could even think to ask, Hitomi explained, "A few of my fellow Elders still have doubts regarding the abilities you purport to possess. I know this is a bit sudden, but it would go a long way towards allaying any concerns they might have if you can demonstrate your ability in front of them. To that end, I have asked that one of our recently born daughters be brought in. Please tell us everything you are able to ascertain from observing her..."Though he was tempted to refuse, Hitomi's previous warnings were still fresh in Nobu's mind. He was also doing his best to at least appear calmer and more confident, so, despite frowning quite a bit, he ultimately answered, "Fine. I don't appreciate being put on the spot like this but I'll make an exception this time. Just keep in mind that I'll be charging you for each future use. This ability literally consumes my cultivation base so I'm not going to spam it just because you want to test me."Seeing, not just Hitomi, but all of the Elders nod their heads, Nobu shifted his attention to the buxom kunoichi, awkwardness swelling within him as she promptly proferred him the baby in her arms. He didn't actually need to be in contact with the person he was scanning, but, now that he thought about it, Nobu realized there was quite a bit of merit to keeping the specifics of his ability a secret...------------------------------------Name: Yoshitsune JyubeiAge: 19 daysGender: Female, H:49.3cm, W: 4.8kg, B: 42.2cm, W: 43.1cm, H: 41.9cmBlood Type: O+Cultivation: N/AAura Units: 8/10Status: Cursed(+), Hungry(+), Sleepy(+)-Cursed by the Goddess Inari Okami: Probably of bearing daughters increased to 99.5%. Life expectancy drastically reduced. Removal Cost: 3,000,000AU-Hungry: She is hungry. Removal Cost: 1AU-Sleepy: She is sleepy. Removal Cost: 1AUMain Hand: No PreferencePreferred Weapon: No PreferenceStrengths: CuteWeakness: She is a babyOrientation: No PreferencePreferences: Enjoys Being HeldFavorite Food: Breast Milk......------------------------------------Though he could have gone the rest of his life without knowing the dimensions of a newborn infant, Nobu did his best to ignore the mild nausea he was experiencing, saying, "Her name is Yoshitsune Jyubei. She is 19 days old, weighs 4.8kg, and has a Blood Type of O+. Her current Aura amount is 10 and she is currently both sleepy and hungry. As for special bloodlines, she would be normal if not for the Curse affecting your entire Clan..."Hearing Nobu's explanation, the Elders present, Suzune especially, felt varying degrees of excitement. His ability was a lot more comprehensive than they had anticipated. They even suspected he wasn't telling them everything, but, rather than press him for more, they just nodded in approval when Hitomi passed her gaze over each of them in turn.Seeing each of the Elders nod, a smile developed across Hitomi's face as she returned her attention to Nobu and said, "On behalf of the entire Yoshitsune Clan, let me be the first to say that I'm looking forward to a long and healthy cooperation with Waka-no, Nobunaga-sama..."To indicate her sincerity, Hitomi bowed forward, an action promptly repeated by everyone else in the hall. This made Nobu feel more than a little uncomfortable, but, understanding this was probably the 'ideal' outcome, he forced a smile and answered, "Yeah...sure thing..." in an audibly awkward tone.........(A/N: Nobu's ability makes Information Elders moist (UwU)...)

Just as Senken had formed his resolve, a feminine voice echoed throughout the vault, surprising everyone within as it mused, "How tragic...it's amazing how a single selfish decision can have such a drastic influence on the course of history..."With his son currently tending his wife and child, it was Senichi who manifested a gigantic katana formed from a deep blue metal, exclaiming, "Who goes there!?" in a booming voice that caused a neatly stacked pile of gold to capsize from the baritone vibrations.In response to Senichi's outburst, a golden crack appeared out of thin air as a phenomenal aura, unlike anything the room's occupants had ever felt, descended upon them. From within the crack, an indescribably beautiful woman with golden hair, glowing blue eyes, and pointed ears emerged, answering, "You may address me as Imina Ataraxy, Goddess of the Six Paths. I have come bearing a message. More specifically, a prophecy. Now, I would advise you to kneel..."Without waiting for the people present to abide, Imina gestured with her hand, and, as a result, everyone present within the vault, sans Senken and Nana, was forced to bend a knee. Those that attempted to resist, Senichi included, found their knees impacting the ground with enough force to crack the marbled flooring."Very good. Now, listen closely. I dislike having to repeat myself, and I am far too busy to answer questions..."Tapping the air with her right hand, Imina created a three-dimensional projection of Nobu from his previous life before proceeding to explain, "Due to a particular set of circumstances, the soul meant to dwell within your child has been delayed. The easiest way to explain this is that they are currently living in a tangential world, one with a similar yet decidedly different history to this one. Now, let's move on to the prophecy..."Manifesting an antiquated scroll veiled in golden light, a smile developed across Imina's face as she opened it and read, "The Beasts of Calamity will soon awaken, heralding the beginning of the end. If Nian is to survive, it will need to be unified under a single, solitary, banner. Though only the future knows what form it will take, the first son of the Oda Clan has been chosen as one of the candidates to guide the people from the current era into the next. Whether or not this new era is one of peace and prosperity...well, that will ultimately depend on the people guiding him..."Though the last part wasn't part of the prophecy, Imina decided to give Nobu a hand by mixing in a vague warning. Time didn't flow linearly from the perspective of the Gods so this event was actually taking place after her little text conversation with Nobu. His straightforward apology had influenced her to take a look into his previous life. When she learned he wasn't actually an Otaku, she even felt a little sorry for him, but, rather than admit she had made a rather severe mistake, Imina decided to pull a few strings to make sure he didn't experience any bad ends before he had a chance to grow.To this end, a golden light shot from the ancient-looking scroll and into Nobu's infant body as she said, "Well now. That takes care of that. Since I said I wouldn't be answering questions, I trust there aren't any? Good. Take care of yourselves. That brat should return to his body before his twentieth birthday. Till then, do your best."Finished with what she intended to say, Imina waved her hand towards the statuesque group of people before spontaneously collapsing into a golden mote of light that subsequently exploded outward in a vibrant pulse that restored their movements and healed their wounds. This included the sequelae suffered by Nana during her delivery, so, while the light had yet to fully return to her eyes, she appeared marginally more hopeful as she asked, "My baby...he's going to be okay...?"While he couldn't even begin to describe how lost and confused he felt at the present moment, Senken immediately regained his senses when he heard his wife's question. At the same time, the resolution he had previously formed came back in full force as he gently squeezed her hand and answered, "I'll make sure of it..."......Though she obviously left out the parts she wasn't aware of, Hitomi gave a general summary of the events leading up to and occurring after Nobu's birth. This included the agreement that allowed her to ascend to Mithril and retain the position of Matriarch to the present day. After that, she detailed everything Nobu had revealed to her, spinning it in such a way that guaranteed they would want to support him rather than impede him.As the most senior member of the Yoshitsune Clan, it was Inami who followed Hitomi's explanation by asking, "Are you suggesting we shift our allegiances to Oda Nobunaga rather than the Oda Clan as a whole? What if he decides not to become the next Daimyo? Or, even worse, what if the path he chooses leads to the destruction of Nian rather than its salvation?"Without flinching, even as ghostly purples flames began to manifest around Inami's tails, Hitomi answered, "That Goddess was able to violate the restriction prohibiting Gods from manifesting in this world without a Grand Ritual and a designated Altar. If we accept her words at face value, the destruction of Nian is the least of our concerns. If these Beasts of Calamity are the same as those who brought an end to the Age of Gods, the entire world will be endangered, not just our homely little Archipelago..."Frowning in response to Hitomi's words, Inami's tails began to flicker and undulate as she rose to her feet and said, "I will meet-"Before Inami could finish speaking, Hitomi's aura erupted outward as she coldly exclaimed, "You will not!"Though Inami was inarguably the most powerful person in the entire Yoshitsune Clan, her authority was still lower than the Matriarch. She was also a Kitsune and the physical vessel of Inari Okami, so, until the Spring season had come to an end, Hitomi would never allow her to meet with Nobu.Baring her teeth, a violent aura began to surge from Inami's body until every other Elder present promptly surrounded her. A few of them might not be particularly fond of Hitomi but she was still the acting Matriarch. Her word was law within the Yoshitsune Clan, so, if Inami attempted to force the issue, they would have no choice but to restrain and temporarily seal her.Realizing she was out of line, Inami forcibly suppressed her bestial urges before lowering herself into a dogeza, inordinately large vulpine ears touching the ground as she said, "Forgive me. I let my emotions get the better of me...it won't happen again..."Confident that Inami wouldn't actually attack her, Hitomi had remained seated despite her previous outburst. She also understood that Inami's interest in Nobu was unquestionably exacerbated by her contract with Inari Okami, so, rather than taking the matter to heart, she simply stated, "If he is still living among us, you may meet with Nobunaga-sama towards the end of Summer. As for everyone else, you will need to confer with Suzune-dono. I intend to place her in charge of watching over our Young Lord until his departure. I trust there are no complaints...?"Though they were more than a little interested in meeting with the man implied to have the ability to unify and lead the entire nation, none of the Elders spoke out against Hitomi's decision. Rather, now that they knew why she had been allowed to remain Matriarch, most of the resentment they had built towards her rapidly faded away. After all, they were discussing matters related to the fate of Nian, their clan, and the world as a whole. Now wasn't exactly the time for infighting.........After enjoying a delicious yet awkward meal, courtesy of Cho, Nobu looked around at the kunoichi present within his room before passing his gaze over the hungry-looking children that had recently come into his 'possession'. Cho had only brought enough food for him to eat, and, now that he was thinking about it, he hadn't actually thought about when the trio would eat or where they would be staying...Deciding to shift the burden to Yui, Nobu eyed the stoic beauty as he asked, "What should I do with these three? I don't really have the time or patience to watch over a bunch of brats, but I don't want them to grow up in the same way as you girls...no offense..."Appearing nervous the moment they heard their new Master's remarks, Sachiko, Nariko, and Midori immediately shifted their rounded eyes to Yui, varying degrees of fear visible in their gazes. Things had been going relatively well for them until now, but there was still a chance they would be forced to suffer should their Master suddenly lose interest in them.Feeling uncharacteristically disconcerted by the trio's gazes, Yui resisted the urge to fidget around in her seat as she looked towards Kumiko, Cho, and Kazue before saying, "The three of you will take them as disciples. You don't have to confer all your skills to them, just enough to make them useful to our Lord. They will serve as his personal Maids and Attendants in the future."Though she understood that Nobu wouldn't want the trio he saved to become standard kunoichi, it would cause all sorts of problems if they were allowed to benefit from his benevolence without cost or compensation. If they couldn't be of use to their Lord, they would either need to be disposed of or supplanted by people actually willing to work for the benefits they would receive.Nodding in response to Yui's proposal, Kumiko pointed towards Sachiko, smiling as she said, "If my Lord wills it, I'll take this little one under my wing. She appears to be the calmest and most collected among the three. At the very least, I can prepare her to be a courier."With Nobu, albeit reluctantly, nodding his head in response, Cho and Kazue each selected their new disciples in turn. Midori ended up being chosen by Cho, so, by process of elimination, Nariko would be learning the basics of medicine from Kazue.Upon learning their fates, Sachiko and Nariko appeared greatly relieved. Midori, however, paled the moment she heard she would be apprenticing under Cho. Nobu noticed this, but, before he could ask, Kumiko chimed in to say, "Well then, now that everything has been decided. Why don't the six of us get to know each other over a meal?"Raising his hand before the girls could motion to leave the room, Nobu's expression formed into a frown as he asked, "Is there something you're keeping from me? I don't mind you girls having a few secrets, but how am I supposed to trust you if you can't be straight with me?"Smiling wryly in response to Nobu's words, Kumiko shifted her gaze towards Cho only to find the latter smiling radiantly as she said, "Please, don't mind me. I've already achieved my dream, so I've no qualms about the truth being exposed."Frowning even deeper, Nobu asked, "What truth...?" in a stern tone of voice.Though the atmosphere immediately became tense, Cho maintained a radiant smile on her face as she casually explained, "The life expectancy of a poison taster and chef is generally between 23~25 years. Midori is afraid that her lifespan will be reduced by studying under me, but I can-""Wait, wait, wait. Hold the fuck up. You're telling me you only have, what, six or seven years left to live? What kind of bullshit is that...!?"Rather than diminishing in the slightest, Cho's smile became even more radiant as she pressed the tips of her fingers together and happily chimed, "My Lord is genuinely concerned about me. I just might be the happiest kunoichi in the world right now~."......(A/N: Oof...)

Chapter 61: Sustenance